{"id":10295,"date":"2018-04-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.causevox.com\/?p=10295"},"modified":"2024-05-08T21:34:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T21:34:25","slug":"diy-fundraising","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.causevox.com\/blog\/diy-fundraising\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY Fundraising: How To Activate Supporters To Fundraise Year-Round"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cFundraising on your own schedule, anytime, anyplace,\u201d sounds like a great way to entice your supporters to participate in peer-to-peer fundraising efforts, right? But is this fundraising technique feasible and does the financial outcome outweigh the time commitment? Simply put, yes!<\/p>\n

In fact, DIY (do-it-yourself) fundraising is a strategy nonprofits of all missions, sizes, and capacities are starting to try. Your role as a fundraising professional is to provide your personal fundraisers the tools they need to succeed, and then it\u2019s up to them to rally their networks of friends and family to give.<\/p>\n

On the surface, it may seem like a very hands-off approach to fundraising for you, but there\u2019s still work to do on your nonprofit\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re considering incorporating DIY fundraising into your annual fundraising plan<\/a>, here\u2019s why and how to get started.<\/p>\n

What is DIY Fundraising?<\/h2>\n

First, let\u2019s break down DIY fundraising and how it differs from traditional peer-to-peer fundraising<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When people decide to raise money for your organization and take on the role of \u201cfundraiser,\u201d we refer to them as \u201cpersonal fundraisers.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

With DIY fundraising, these fantastic, inspired personal fundraisers create a website to fuel their individual campaign. Unlike regular peer-to-peer fundraising, which operates on a set schedule with a start and end date, a DIY campaign happens at the personal fundraiser\u2019s convenience.<\/p>\n

An organization may suggest a goal and provide fundraising tips, but it\u2019s ultimately up to the fundraiser to make a call for themselves.<\/p>\n

What Does DIY Fundraising Look Like?<\/h2>\n

DIY fundraising is fairly new, so nonprofits are still trying to figure out exactly how to use its structure to best suit their fundraising needs. However, some common themes have popped up as DIY fundraising has grown.<\/p>\n

DIY Fundraising Campaigns are Interconnected: <\/strong>Think of DIY fundraising like a tree. You have the main trunk, which is your organization\u2019s campaign website. From there, personal fundraisers create their own branches from their personal fundraising website. Each branch represents a different campaign. Some branches are larger. Some branches are smaller. Regardless, each branch is necessary.<\/p>\n

World Bicycle Relief uses DIY fundraising<\/a> all year long. As you can see in the image below, they have a main campaign website. From there, personal fundraisers can create their individual page.<\/p>\n

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Personal Fundraising Page<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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It\u2019s Both Individual and Structured<\/strong>: Nonprofits and charities provide a framework to help personal fundraisers structure their websites, usually in the form of a toolkit<\/a>. Basic campaign information, such as the potential financial and \u201cgreater good\u201d impact of a personal fundraiser\u2019s campaign, suggested campaign timelines and goals, and story writing prompts are all necessary.<\/p>\n

But, when push comes to shove, a personal fundraiser will implement these factors how they see fit.<\/p>\n

Check out World Help\u2019s DIY fundraising campaign: mycause. On this informational page, World Help details the personal fundraiser\u2019s job responsibilities and options.<\/p>\n

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MyCause Web Page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s Usually (But Not Always) Centered Around a Special Event: <\/strong>Some organizations find that personal fundraisers often mobilize around special days and occasions<\/a>, such as birthdays and holidays. For example, there are many DIY campaigns out there that \u201csponsor\u201d a fundraiser\u2019s wedding, anniversary or birthday. In most cases, the fundraiser requests donations to your cause instead of gifts.<\/p>\n

However, there are also people out there that are so enthusiastically loyal to your cause that they want to fundraise \u201cjust because,\u201d so it\u2019s nice to give them the opportunity to do so.<\/p>\n

For example, consider your first-time and newer donors. In many cases, they\u2019re just getting to know your nonprofit and are looking for ways to do more. A DIY campaign can give them an avenue to get involved in a way that deepens their relationship with your cause and multiplies their reach. That\u2019s the beauty of community-driven fundraising. A bit of inspiration goes a long way in activating your donors to become personal fundraisers!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Beneficial to Everyone Involved: <\/strong>Nonprofit staff and personal fundraisers share responsibility in running the campaign, and they also share the benefits.<\/p>\n

The person or persons tasked with managing the DIY campaign initiative must prepare all support documentation, keep abreast of all ongoing campaigns, and offer ongoing mentoring to participants. However, once the preparations are made, day-to-day management of the DIY campaign is fairly simple.<\/p>\n

At the same time, personal fundraisers must hold themselves accountable to follow best practices to ensure a successful campaign.<\/p>\n

By the end of the campaign, you\u2019ll have an active volunteer fundraiser who knows more about your cause and how to support it, a new set of donors, and more visibility in the community. As a bonus, ongoing DIY fundraising campaigns ensure a consistent flow of income to your cause year-round.<\/p>\n

Helpful Tips & Tricks<\/h2>\n

The key to providing a pleasant experience for personal fundraisers is to make it fun and easy. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n